A whale shark of approximately 4.2 to 4.8 meters was spotted on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean, between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu, California, United States. The sighting drew attention due to the unusual presence of the species in the region and occurs while Pacific waters are showing above-average temperatures amid the strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon.
The animal was located by commercial fisherman Ryder DeVoe and filmed by pilot Carl Sbarounis, who was flying over the area. "He found this 4 to 5 meter whale shark between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu on September 9. I was nearby and went to film and take some photos," Sbarounis wrote on Instagram.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Sbarounis stated that he had seen the last specimen of the species three years ago. The pilot explained that whale sharks appear when the water is warmer, which may explain the rare sighting in the region during this period of Pacific water warming.
